Door-knob.



(No Model.)

l JNI/ENTOR MESSE UN irn @rares linrnivr rricn.

lIAMES R. FLETCHER, OF STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE YALE k TOIVNE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF STAMFORD,

. CONNECTICUT.

KNOB.

i SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 708,336, dated September 2, 1902.

Application iiled June l0, 1902.

T @ZZ whom, t may concern/ Be it known that I, JAMES R.'FLETCHER, of Stamford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door-Knobs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in A door-knobs, and particularly to means for securing knobs to spindles, the object being to provide means whereby the spindle can be pushed into position within its knob-shank and locked there and be Vquickly and readily released Without the employment of any tools or skilled labor. A

With these ends in view my invention consists in a` clamping-plate located within the shank of the knob and provided with a lug projecting through a slot in the knob-shank and a spring for normally holding said plate in a position to clamp the spindle.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure lis a View in elevation, partly in section, of my improvement. Fig. 2 is a similar View, enlarged, showing a spindle locked to the knob. Fig. 3 is a similar View showing the clamp in a position to permit the spindle to be moved in or out of the knob. Fig. Il is a detached" View of the clamp. Fig. 5 is a view of the inner end of the shank of the adjustablev knob, showing the disk F removed, and Fig. 6 is a View of same with the disk in position.V

A represents a spindle provided at one end with one or a series of holes for the passage of a pin a, which secures the fixed knob B to the spindle. If suflicient adjustment is not obtainable at the adjustable knob end of thev spindle, as hereinafter described, additional adjustment can be secured at the fixed knob end by simply removing the pin and replacing it in another hole in the shank, although it will be found that in a great majority of instances the adjustment afforded by the adj ustable knob will be ample. Y

The adjustable knob C is provided with a shank c, having a screw-threaded inner end by which it is secured to the knob. This shank has an angular opening at its outer Serial No. 111,042. (No model.)

that when the disk is at right angles to the' spindle the latter may be moved freely therein. The frontend or wall d of the cylindrical bore l) is arranged slightly oblique, as shown, the normal position of the clamping-plate D being parallel to and in contact with said obliquewall, so that the upper and lower walls ofthe slot or opening through the clamping-plate will engage and bite against the corresponding faces of the spindle and -prevent any outward longitudinal movement of the latter.

The clamping-plate l) is provided on its periphery with a projecting lug or finger-piece d', which latter projects through a slot d2 in the shank of the knob and rests in a position to be engaged by a nger. When this plateD is turned up to a. vertical position, or a position at right angles to the shank of the knob, the bite on the spindle A is released, and the latter can then be adjusted longitudinally therein or the knob be adjusted longitudinally on the spindle, so as `to bring the parts into their proper relative position.

Located within the bore of the shank of the knob C is the coiled spring E, which latter" `bears at one end against the clamping-plate and atits other end against the disk F, located within the inner open end of the shank of the knob and held therein by the lugs g, which latter are integral with the shank of the knob and turned inwardly, as shown, to lock the disk in place. This disk holds the 'spring under tension, and the latter yielding holds the clamping-platein its obliqueposition.

With the parts thus constructed and applied it will be seen that the spindle can be freely moved inwardly, the clamping-plate yielding against the spring, but will resist all attempts to withdraw the spindle, owing to IOT) the inclined position of the clamping-plate. By grasping the projecting lug d' of the plate D and turning same to a position at right angles to the shank of the knob the spindle may be freely Withdrawn from the knob C or the knob released from the spindle.

It is evident that changes in the construction and relative arrangement of the several parts might be made without avoiding my invention, and hence I would have it understood that I do not restrict myself to the particular construction and arrangement of parts shown and described; but,

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination with a spindle, of a knob, a clamping-plate located Within the shank of the knob and normally resting in an inclined or oblique position therein, the said plate havinga peripheral lug projecting through a slot in the knob-shank and a spring for yieldingly holding the clamping-plate in position.

2. The combination with a spindle, of a knob, a spindle-clamping plate located Within the shank of the knob and provided with a lug projecting through a slot in the knobshank, and a spring for yieldingly holding said plate in a position to clamp the spindle.

3. The combination with a spindle, of a knob, a spindle-clam ping plate located Within the shank of the knob and provided with a lug projecting through a slot in said shank, a spring for yieldingly holding said plate in a position to clamp the spindle, and a disk secured within the inner end of the shank and locking the spring Within theshank.

4. In combination with a knob-shank, a movable clamping-plate carried in the shank, a spring also carried in the shank which tends to throw the clamping-plate into the locked position, and means for compressing the spring and releasing the clamping-plate so that the spindle can be removed from the shank.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. Y

JAMES R. FLETCHER.

Witnesses:

SCHUYLER MERRrrT, CHAs. E. IIoRNE. 

